MANILA – Malacañang on Friday said the government is addressing a shortage of skilled workers which President Rodrigo Duterte blamed for the supposed delay in the government’s infrastructure projects.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte has instructed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to look into the shortage of skilled workers.
“Marami po tayong mga taong hindi empleyado, whether sa gobyerno o sa kumpanya, kasi hindi naman sila qualified. Lalo na iyong mga vocational, lalo na sa construction,” Panelo said at a news conference.
“Kaya sabi ni Presidente, sa TESDA, ‘Aba kailangan para magkaroon tayo ng malalim na bench ng mga karpentero, ng mga welders, mga electricians’. Kasi marami ang nagpuntahan sa iba’t-ibang bansa… In other words, we are doing something about it,” he said.
Following the President’s pronouncement on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the Philippines does not necessarily need to source skilled workers from abroad to keep its ambitious “Build, Build, Build” program running on schedule.
Tugade said TESDA has a training program for skilled workers.
He noted the President meant to emphasize the need to increase the supply of skilled workers in the country.
The Duterte administration, which came to power in 2016, aims to pour more than P8.2 trillion on its flagship infrastructure program until 2022 – building ports, airports, roads, railways, energy facilities, irrigation systems, and flood control projects. (GMA News)
